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March 2010

March 31, 2010

The Rangers have informed right-handers Guillermo Moscoso and Willie Eyre that unless something changes, they will start the season in Triple A. Both will travel with the team to Arlington. That gives a bullpen job to Doug Mathis. Eyre can still make the team if Darren O'Day has to go on the DL. That doesn't seem likely though as O'Day pitched an inning Wednesday and said he felt great.

To clear up a technicality: Matt Treanor, Gregorio Petit and Esteban German have only been told that they will not make the team out of spring training and will start in Triple A Oklahoma City. The Rangers, though, have not made the moves official. Those three players will break camp with the team and be available Friday and Saturday in the two exhibition games against Kansas City. Then, they will be sent to Oklahoma City. Officially.

Gregorio Petit and Esteban German have been sent to the minor leagues, leaving Andres Blanco and Joaquin Arias as the two infielders who will start the season on the Rangers' roster if Ian Kinsler starts on the disabled list. That appears almost certain to happen.

The Rangers have also sent Matt Treanor to Triple A and are trying to work out a trade with San Francisco what would allow them to send Rule 5 pick Ben Snyder to Oklahoma City, so the only decisions left to make on the Opening Day roster involved the corner infielder and second long reliever. Matt Brown and Max Ramirez are the front-runners there, and Doug Mathis and Willie Eyre are vying to be the last member of the bullpen.

Neither Brown or Ramirez has done much lately to seize the job, so the Rangers could look elsewhere for help. There is some interest in Mike Lowell, though his salary and injuries are working against a deal. Seattle released Ryan Garko on Tuesday, and he would fit the pre-requisites as a right-handed-hitting first baseman. There is no interest in Kevin Millar, who was released by the Chicago Cubs.

Mathis and Eyre, meanwhile, have been very good this spring. Mathis pitched five scoreless innings in a minor-league game Tuesday night and can provide more length than Eyre. But Eyre has been stretched over multiple innings and has not allowed an unearned run in 7 1/3 Catcus League innings.

Matt Treanor, acquired March 19 in a trade with Milwaukee, said that he will start the season in Triple A Oklahoma City. That means Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden are the Rangers' catchers to start 2010, but there still hasn't been a decision on who will be the primary starter.

Saltalamacchia is scheduled to catch nine innings today against Seattle, catching Rich Harden. A decision might not be made until after Saturday's exhibition game in Frisco.

"I didn't really have a choice in the matter," said Treanor, who missed almost all of last season with a hip injury. "They've treated me very fair and very upfront. I'm going to reciprocate a little bit, zip it up, and get ready to play."

Ben Snyder could also be headed to Oklahoma City. The Rangers are trying to work out a trade with San Francisco that would keep Snyder, a Rule 5 draft choice, in the organization. He has already cleared outright waivers, and San Francisco seems open to working out a deal.

Other roster decisons are coming today. The infield situation could be cleared up some, with Gregorio Petit possibly headed to the minors.

<>The only things keeping Ian Kinsler off the 15-day disabled list at this point are the official transaction and announcement from the club. The question is, how long will he be on it?

Texas Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine doesn't expect Kinsler's high ankle sprain to keep him out any longer than the minimum, and Kinlser would be able to return April 10. Levine said that Kinsler has made his best strides the past few days, though today he will only track pitches during live batting practice and hit in the cage. Kinsler is not expected to play any of the remaining exhibition schedule.

"With each passing day, the likelihood of him getting to start on Opening Day is diminishing," Levine said. "He's making significant progress, and there has been a breakthrough that took place a couple days ago where he has turned the corner. So, our cause of optimism is much greater today."

Kinsler would break camp with the Rangers tomorrow and continue his rehab in Arlington. He could begin a rehab assignment April 8 at Double A Frisco. Andres Blanco appears the choice to be the starting second baseman Monday against Toronto.

<>Catcher Matt Treanor did not exercise the out clause on his minor-league contract Tuesday and seems prepared to start the season at Triple A Oklahoma City. But he said he might have options once the season begins with other clubs and could opt for free agency at a later date.

"If I get to Triple A and someone wants me, they're going to inquire," said Treanor, who was acquired in a trade March 19. "No one's said anything to me. I was hoping to have talked to someone yesterday."

He could find himself in a fight for playing time at Oklahoma City with Max Ramirez and Kevin Richardson also expected to land there. But with the health of Jarrod Saltalamacchia a concern, Treanor could catch the bulk of the games and be on-call if needed by the Rangers.

The idea that Taylor Teagarden start in the minor leagues with Treanor as the backup to Saltalamacchia hasn't gained much traction. No decision has been made on how the catching duties will be shared, but club officials have indicated that Saltalamacchia could be the choice. He will play in his first A game today since suffering back spasms March 21.

<>Tommy Hunter will not fly back to Arlington with the team. The right-hander, suffering from a strained oblique muscle, will remain in Surprise to continue his rehabilitation and will go on a rehab assignment when he is deemed healthy.

<>Darren O'Day will pitch in a minor-league game today. If all goes well, he would pitch again Friday at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington against Kansas City.